Lemon Lavender Poppy Seed Pound Cake
A fragrant pound cake infused with lemon zest and dried lavender flowers, studded with crunchy poppy seeds for delightful texture. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, layers unsalted butter, granulated sugar, large eggs into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 10, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks), softened unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon zest
- 1 tbsp dried culinary lavender
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
The bakeware we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, cream 1 cup softened unsalted butter with 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar using a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Step 3: Add 4 large eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Step 4: In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt.
- Step 5: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternating with 1/2 cup whole milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
- Step 6: Fold in 2 tbsp fresh lemon zest, 1 tbsp dried culinary lavender, 2 tbsp poppy seeds, and 1 tsp pure vanilla extract gently.
- Step 7: Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 55-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Step 8: Let cake cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.









